The Secret to Being Successful at: Switching Off

When you leave work, do you instantly forget about your work problems, lengthy to-do lists and trying colleagues?

Probably not.

Unfortunately, we can’t just flick a switch and forget about our jobs. Which is precisely why you find yourself replying to work emails late at night or worrying about that upcoming meeting at a family event.

If that sounds familiar then you need to follow our guide for switching off outside of office hours.

Leave on a good note

Before you leave the office each day make sure that your workspace is tidy and that you have cleared away any dirty dishes or pieces of rubbish that may be lying around.

Spend the last couple of minutes at your desk writing your to-do list for the next day. This will help you to feel more in control of the week ahead. The act of writing things down will clear your mind and reassure you that you’re in control.

Use a breaker task

Try using a task to act as a separator between your work day and your personal time. Hit the gym on your way home, go to the grocery shop or spend the 30 minutes on your commute reading a good book instead of scrolling through emails.

Keep your personal phone work-free

This might sound like a first step but trust me, it works. If you want to reclaim your evenings and weekends you need to make sure that you do not have any work-related apps or accounts synced to your personal phone. That means getting rid of your work email and ditching communication tools such as Slack and Trello.

And yes, you have to completely delete them. If you simply turn off notifications you will still be tempted to look. It’s for your own good.

Don’t bring work home with you

Foolishly you think to yourself, ”If I just finish this Powerpoint at home I won’t have to do it tomorrow” or ”I’ll finish this report in bed later.” Big mistake!

Leave your work at work. If you’re completely stuck for time go in early the next day but do not get in the habit of working outside of your regular hours. You need to rest in order to be at your most productive.

Change your clothes when you get home

This one might seem a little bit bizarre but it actually works. Instead of lounging around in your workwear all evening, start to change your clothes as soon as you get home.

Changing your outfit will help you to change your mindset and frame of mind. In more relaxed, casual clothes you are less likely to think about what went on during the day.

Do something you love

One of the quickest ways to switch off after a trying day is to do an activity that makes you happy. It can be as simple as listening to a great podcast or even doodling. Mindful activities will take your mind off all the chaos at work and allow you to stay in the moment.